Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Four New Members to Florida A&M University Board of Trustees
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed four new members to the Florida A&M University (FAMU) Board of Trustees, strengthening the University’s governing body with leaders whose experience spans business, law, healthcare, public service, and higher education. The new appointees are Victor Young, Prerak “Pre” Shah, Roderick Harris, and Kenneth Jones. Their terms begin in January 2026 and run through January 2031.
“It is an honor to welcome these distinguished leaders to the FAMU Board of Trustees,” said President Marva B. Johnson, J.D. “Their outstanding backgrounds in law, business and healthcare will bring added value to our existing board acumen as we work together to lead FAMU forward throughout the coming years.”
Young and Shah, appointed on Dec. 12, 2025, fill seats vacated by former Board of Trustee members Kristin Harper and Craig Reed following the conclusion of their respective terms. Harris and Jones were appointed to succeed Belvin Perry Jr. and Jocelyn Dopson-Rodriguez, whose terms on the Board have also expired.
Victor Young
Term: January 7, 2026 – January 6, 2031
Victor Young is the managing partner of Morgan Auto Group (MAG), the largest automotive dealer group in Florida and the ninth largest in the nation, with annual revenues exceeding $6 billion. In addition to his automotive leadership, Young is a partner at Digital Caviar, a film production company responsible for theatrical and streaming releases such as Lady of the Manor, Bernie the Dolphin, and Crazy Lake. His entrepreneurial reach spans technology, entertainment, and innovation, reflecting a career grounded in growth and creativity.
Young is also deeply committed to community service and leadership development. He
founded Sarasota Metropolis FC, a minor league soccer team in the United States Soccer
League, donating 10 percent of the team’s profits to cancer research while mentoring
young athletes in character, leadership, and family values. Previously appointed by
Governor Rick Scott to the Pasco-Hernando State College Board of Trustees, Young has
served on numerous civic and nonprofit boards, including the Sarasota Economic Development
Corporation and the Southeastern Guide Dogs Endowment Fund. He currently serves as
vice chairman of the Moffitt Medical Group at Moffitt Cancer Center and was named
the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s CIO of the Year in 2017.
Prerak “Pre” Shah, J.D.
Term: January 7, 2026 – January 6, 2031
Prerak “Pre” Shah is a partner in the Houston office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, where he advises corporations and executives facing complex state, federal, and congressional investigations. His legal practice also includes representing clients in high-stakes civil litigation, particularly at the intersection of law, public policy, and politics. Shah’s work reflects deep experience navigating some of the most consequential legal and regulatory matters in the country.
Shah previously served as acting United States attorney for the Northern District
of Texas, overseeing more than 120 prosecutors and serving as the chief federal law
enforcement officer for a population exceeding eight million people. His tenure included
leading major prosecutions and investigations involving securities fraud, domestic
terrorism, and violent crime. Earlier, Shah served as chief of staff and chief counsel
to U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and as senior counsel to the attorney general of Texas. He
earned his Juris Doctor with honors from the University of Chicago Law School and
clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Roderick Harris, MSW, CPM
Term: January 9, 2026 – January 6, 2031
Roderick Harris brings more than two decades of experience in human services across
public and private sectors. He currently serves as director of the Office of System
Innovation within the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, where he leads efforts
to identify and present key performance measures across departmental program areas.
His work focuses on data-informed decision-making and system-level improvements that
enhance outcomes for youth and families.
Previously, Harris served as a senior business analyst with Five Point Technology
Group, leading national data analytics and behavioral health initiatives, and as a
data administrator for the Northwest Florida Health Network. He began his post-master’s
career with the Office of the State Courts Administrator, supporting dependency court
improvement initiatives. A proud two-time Florida A&M University alumnus, Harris earned
his bachelor’s degree in sociology and master’s degree in social work, and later served
nearly a decade as adjunct faculty in the University’s Department of Social Work.
Kenneth Jones, MBA, MHA
Term: January 9, 2026 – January 6, 2031
Kenneth Jones is chief executive officer of HCA Florida Northwest Hospital in Margate,
Florida, and a member of the HCA Healthcare Hope Fund Board. He brings nearly 20 years
of leadership experience in hospital administration and clinical operations, having
served as president and chief executive officer at multiple healthcare institutions
across the Midwest and Florida.
Jones previously held CEO roles at AMITA Health Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, St. Joseph Hospital in Fort Wayne, The Orthopedic Hospital of Lutheran Health Network, and Heekin Orthopedic Specialists in Jacksonville. A Florida A&M University alumnus, Jones earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from FAMU, as well as a Master of Healthcare Administration and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.
The new trustees will be subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate. Read more about them here.
Media Contact:
Rachel James-Terry
Senior Director of Strategic Communications
rachel.jamesterry@famu.edu
